---
title: "V-Ray for 3ds Max Autodesk application package"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/VMAX/113586614/V-Ray%20for%203ds%20Max%20Autodesk%20application%20package"
format: markdown
---
Starting with 3ds Max 2022, the format for plugins is changed to the Autodesk Application Plug-in Package format as described here:  Autodesk application package help V-Ray for 3ds Max installation has been modified to support plugin packages.  The V-Ray installation location can be obtained by 3rd parties through the 3ds Max’s PluginPackageManager. The upgradeCode is "{00B38902-1C59-405A-875E-A9E3461F1FE7}" Structure of the V-Ray application plugin package For the sake of portability V-Ray for 3ds Max is installed in a single directory under the application plug-ins location, known further as  PKGROOT . The accompanying V-Ray Standalone files are there too. The package is in a directory named  VRay3dsMax<3ds Max version> . This should allow for distribution by just copying the whole package and setting the  environment variables .   There are two possible locations for installing an Autodesk application package as follows: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\[plugin_name] Example: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\VRay3dsMax2022 This is the preferred install location when a plug-in is installed by the Autodesk store installer. Plug-ins installed to this location are available to  all  users on the machine. %APPDATA%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\[plugin_name] Example: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\MyPlugin The V-Ray SDK, example projects documentation installer and its logs as files not essential to rendering are still in their former place (by default at  C:\Program Files\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx ) further known as  INSTALLROOT . A summary of the files bundled in the Autodesk application package for V-Ray: Package element Description Former location [PKGROOT]/amg viewport shaders <Program Files>\Autodesk\3ds Max*\AMG [PKGROOT]/assets files needed for V-Ray for 3ds Max e.g. material_preview.vrscene <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\assets [PKGROOT]/bin V-Ray GPU binaries and plugins <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\bin [PKGROOT]/defaults 3ds Max defaults settings <Program Files>\Autodesk\3ds Max*\en-US\defaults [PKGROOT]/docs V-Ray EULA <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\docs [PKGROOT]/plugins V-Ray for 3ds Max plugins <Program Files>\Autodesk\3ds Max*\Plugins [PKGROOT]/resources V-Ray Toolbar icons <Program Files>\Autodesk\3ds Max*\UI_ln [PKGROOT]/sceneconverter 3ds Max scene converter scripts (and presets) <Program Files>\Autodesk\3ds Max*\SceneConverter [PKGROOT]/scripts 3ds Max startup scripts <Program Files>\Autodesk\3ds Max*\scripts [PKGROOT]/PackageContents.xml The Autodesk application package descriptor [INSTALLROOT]/docs V-Ray SDK documentation shipped <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\docs [INSTALLROOT]/include V-Ray SDK headers <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\include [INSTALLROOT]/lib V-Ray SDK export libraries <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\lib [INSTALLROOT]/mdl VRayMDL sample shaders <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\mdl [INSTALLROOT]/samples V-Ray SDK sample projects <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\samples [INSTALLROOT]/uninstall V-Ray installer's binary, config and log <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\uninstall [INSTALLROOT]/utils Other products installations that are bundled with V-Ray <Program Files>\Chaos\V-Ray\3ds Max 20xx\utils